What is an EICR?

The report covers the fixed parts of your electrical installation: the consumer unit (fuse box), circuits, sockets, light fittings, switches, earthing and bonding. A qualified electrician inspects these visually and carries out tests to see how they perform. They look for deterioration, overloaded circuits, poor connections, missing protection and anything that does not meet the current wiring standards.

It is not a test of your appliances. Kettles, TVs and washing machines are covered by portable appliance testing, which is a separate job. An EICR is about the wiring in the walls, ceilings and fittings.

You may hear it called an EICR check, an installation condition report or a condition report. These all mean the same thing, and the document itself is what people usually call the EICR certificate.

Landlords are the group most often asked for one. Rules for rented homes require the electrical installation to be inspected and tested at regular intervals by a qualified person, and tenants are normally given a copy of the report. Because rules can change, check GOV.UK for the current position on your type of tenancy.

Homeowners are not usually required by law to have one, but it makes sense in several situations: you have just bought an older property, you are planning major building work, the wiring has never been checked, or you have noticed warning signs such as flickering lights, warm sockets, tripping circuits or a burning smell.

A common question is whether you can sell a house without an electrical safety certificate. Generally there is no blanket legal requirement for a seller to hold an EICR, but buyers, mortgage lenders or solicitors sometimes ask for one. Your solicitor or estate agent can tell you what applies to your sale.

The report gives an overall result of satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Any issues are listed with a code:

C1 means danger is present and immediate action is needed. C2 means potentially dangerous and urgent attention is needed. C3 means improvement is recommended but it is not considered dangerous. FI means further investigation is required because the inspector could not establish the cause or extent of a problem.

A C1, C2 or FI usually results in an unsatisfactory report. Landlords are normally expected to arrange the remedial work within a set period, so read the report carefully and act on it as soon as possible. Once the work is done, the electrician can confirm that the faults have been put right.

It depends mainly on the size of the property and the number of circuits. A small flat is usually quicker than a large house with outbuildings, and the job takes longer if the consumer unit is hard to reach or the electrician has to lift floor coverings or open fittings.

Part of the testing needs the power switched off to different circuits, so you should expect some interruption. Ask your electrician beforehand how long the supply is likely to be off, particularly if you work from home or have medical equipment, a freezer full of food or a tenant living there.

The written report normally follows after the inspection. Ask when you can expect it.

There is no single fixed rate for an EICR, so be cautious of any figure quoted without details. The cost is mostly driven by the time the inspection will take, which comes down to the number of circuits, the size and age of the property, and how easy the electrics are to get to.

Other things that can affect the price include a callout fee or minimum charge, whether the electrician works to a fixed price or an hourly rate, the time of day or week the work is done, and any extra visits needed to investigate faults. Repair work found during the inspection is separate and depends on the parts and labour involved.

The best approach is to ask for a written quote that says exactly what is included, whether remedial work is priced separately and whether a retest is covered.

An EICR is only as good as the person doing it. Use a competent, qualified electrician who is experienced in inspection and testing, and ask what scheme or registration they hold and for proof of it. Ask whether the report will follow the current wiring standards and whether it will include a clear list of any observations with their codes.

Keep the report safe. Landlords, buyers and insurers may all ask to see it, and it is the starting point for planning any future electrical work.